The poor condition of the Beluru-Lapok road, which has received numerous complaints from the people in the Baram district, drew the attention of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today.

Najib, who is also the finance minister, announced an allocation of more than RM100 million to upgrade the 42km stretch of road which links the district to Miri city.

"I will ensure that this project can be implemented in the near future," he said in his speech at a gathering of the people with the leader at Kampung Long Banga, Baram, more than an hour's journey by helicopter from Miri.

azlan About 3,000 people flocked to Kampung Long Banga, a settlement for the majority Saban ethnic group, to attend the gathering.

Najib also announced an allocation of RM6 million to implement the mini-hydro electric power project in Long Banga.

The prime minister said RM1 million would also be allocated for the construction of a road linking Kampung Long Banga to a small airfield there.

He said RM500,000 was being allocated for the implementation of a mobile clinic project in Kampung Long Jekitan, another settlement near Long Banga.

Najib said the government had also raised the financial aid under the Rubber Replanting Scheme in Sarawak from RM10,000 to RM14,000.

The prime minister said all these allocations were part of the government efforts to ensure that people living in the rural areas could benefit from the country's progress like the urban dwellers in this country.

- Bernama